How much should Bellingham City Council members be paid?
The city seeks volunteers for a seven-member Salary Commission that will decide that question later this year.
Applicants must be registered voters who live within the Bellingham city limits. The commission is scheduled to meet 6–8 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:
- Sept. 14, 28
- Oct. 12, 26
- Nov. 9, 16
The commission will disband after finishing its work.
A link to apply online has been posted on the city’s homepage at cob.org. Include a letter of interest with the application. The deadline is Aug. 15. The mayor will appoint the seven commission members with council approval.
The Salary Commission will set council members’ salaries for the next eight years. The group’s decision is final and is not subject to council review. Any salary increase would take effect next year. A salary decrease wouldn’t be applied until after each council member’s term is over.
The council salary was set at $1,893 a month in 2013, plus some health benefits, with an annual pay raise of 3%. Council members are paid $2,471 a month this year, for an annual salary of $29,652.
